Saturday, June 24, 2023

In the West Bank, around 100 Israeli settlers with a military escort raided Umm Safa, attacking Palestinians, including journalists from Palestine TV, setting fire to houses and vehicles, and throwing stones at vehicles, including an ambulance; 4 Israeli settlers was arrested. 1 Israeli military vehicle was set on fire during the assault on Umm Safa. 1 Israeli soldier was later arrested on suspicion of being an active participant in the settler attacks. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Ras Karkar, injuring 1 Palestinian. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers vandalized 6 tents in al-Mughayyir. Israeli settlers also set fire to Palestinian crops in al-Twana and let their sheep graze on crops in Ein al-Beida in the Masafer Yatta area. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers set up 2 mobile homes near Deir Istiya. Israeli settlers also set fire to trees near Sa‘ir. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor who allegedly opened fire at Israeli soldiers at the Qalandia checkpoint. 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ya’bad and Arrabah, including 1 minor. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/24; HA, HA, HA 6/25; PCHR 7/6; UNOCHA 7/8)

In Tel Aviv, thousands of Israelis continued the weekly protest against the Israeli government for the 25th Saturday in a row. (HA, HA 6/24)

Israeli military chief of staff Herzl Halevi, Shin Bet director Ronen Bar, and Police commissioner Kobi Shabtai issued a statement calling the Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians “nationalist terror” and claimed that the Israeli military would expend more resources to prevent the attacks and the Shin Bet would increase its usage of administrative detention against Israeli settlers. (HA, REU 6/24; AJ 6/25)